Process of reproducing images on metallic surfaces



March 21, 1933.

J. P. BROCKWAY PROCESS OF REPRODUCING IMAGES 0N METALLIC SURFACES Filed Feb. 28, 1929 75 CHLUR/NE GAS SUPPLY I is-4.

m 5. w Q Q INVENTOR Jay/v R BROCKWA) ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 21, 1933 UNE'FEE STATES means PATENT OFFICE B. BOWMAN, OF

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA PROCESS OF REPRODUCING IMAGES ON METALLIC SURFACES Application filed February 28, 1929. Serial No. 343,576.

My invention relates to a process of reproducing images on metallic surfaces, more particularly copper surfaces, and the objects of my invention are: First, to

provide a new and novel process of reproducing images; Second, to provide a new and novel process of reproducing images on metallic surfaces; Third, to provide a new and novel process of reproducing images on metallic polished surfaces; Fourth, to provide a new and novel process of preparing film or negatives for reproducing from said film or negative on metallic surfaces; Fifth, to provide anew and novel process of fixing the image on said metallic surface, and Sixth, to provide a new and novel process of this class which is very simple, efiicient and economical of operation, effective, and which produces surfaces with images which are very durable.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of the certain novel process as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which form a part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a chlo rine gas supply container; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a printing frame illustrating the facilities used in my process; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of my electrical fixing bath apparatus; and Fig. 4 is an edge View of the finished metal plate with the lacquer coating.

My process consists in taking an unsensitized photographic film of convenient size, a film 1 whose emulsion contains no salts of silver or other sensitizing chemical, and immersing said film in dry chlorine gas for an hour or more as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing; then placing this film on any highly polished metallic surface, such as iron, steel,

Monel metal, brass or copper, as designated 45 2 in Fig. 2 of the drawing preferably copper;

then placing on this surface a negative 3 with a picture or images; these may be bound together in a photographic printing frame 4,

or supported in their relation to each other 50 otherwise; and then exposing the same to sunlight 5, or other similar light 5. The light will cause the adsorbed chlorine gas in the film 1 to become active and will print out the picture design or image contained in the negative on the metallic surface as shown in Fig. 3. After the picture or image has been printed out or made on the metallic surface it may be made permanent or fixed by electricity as follows: i

The object 2 with the picture or image is immersed in a bath of distilled water, 1500 cubic centimeters, nickel ammonium sulphate, 5 grams, sodium chromate, 5 grams, and ammonium bisulphate,5 grams, which will form a bath. A. plate forming an anode is placed in the bath and said treated surface is used as a cathode and subjected to a current of electricity of 10 or more volts D. C. for a second or more of time, which will render the picture permanent, all as shown in Fig. 3. The treated surface is immediately removed from the bath and thoroughly Washed in running water and dried; then said surface is covered with a fine, transparent lacquer 6 as shown in Fig. 4 to prevent marring or scraping of said surface.

In some cases, if desired, the film may be omitted and the negative may be subjected to or immersed in dry chlorine gas for an hour or more and the negative placed next to the 30 highly polished metal surface and exposed to the light, as hereinbefore described. 4

In the place of a photographic film treated in the manner above described, any other transparent sheet, capable of absorbing the gas and remaining inert thereto, may be employed, as for example, celluloid, or transparent paper. I

When desired to reproduce an enlarged image from a negative the image is thrown onto the absorbent film placed over the metallic surface, by means of a conventional enlarging apparatus. The negative is of course not in contact with the gas treated film in this case.

Though I have described a particular process of reproducing images on metallic surfaces, I do not wish to be limited to this particular process, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the process substan- 100 tially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The herein described process of reproducing images on metallic surfaces, comprising the subjecting of a film to dry chlorine gas for a period of an hour or more, then placing the same on a highly polished metals lic surface the metal of a group consisting of iron, steel, Monel metal, brass and copper, then placing a negative with images thereon over said chlorine treated film and subjecting the same to light.

2. The herein described process of reproducing images on metallic surfaces, comprising the subjecting of a film to dry chlorine gas for a period of an hour or more. then placing the same on a highly polished metallic surface the metal of a group consisting of iron, steel, Monel metal brass and copper, then placing a negative with images thereon over said chlorine treated film and subjecting the same to light, then placing said metallic surface in a bath compounded as follows', distilled water, 1500 cubic centimeters, nickel ammonium sulphate, 5 grams, sodium chromate, 5 grams, and ammonium bisulphate, 5 grams, and while submerged in said bath subjecting said surface to a current of electricity of 10 volts for one second, then washing the metallic surface and drying the same, then covering said surface with a fine, transparent lacquer.

3. The herein described process of reproducing images on metallic surfaces, comprising providing a metal of a group consisting of iron, steel, Monel metal, brass and copper with a highly polished surface, then subjecting a transparent member to dry chlorine gas for a period of an hour or more, then placing said transparent member against said surface, then placing a negative with an image in contact with said chlorine gas treated film and then subjecting the same to light, then electroplating said surface.

4. The herein described process of reproducing images on metallic surfaces, comprising providing a metal of a group consisting of iron, steel, Monel metal, brass and copper with a highly polished surface. then subj ecting a transparent member to dry chlorine gas for a period of an'hour or more, then placing said transparent member against said surface, then placing a negative with an image in contact with said chlorine gas treated film, then subjecting the same to light, then electroplating said surface. then cover ingsaid surface with a transparent lacquer.

5. The herein described process of reproducing images on copper surfaces, comprising providing said copper with a highly polished surface, then placing a film with images on said surface and subjecting it to light and registering said image in light and shadow on said surface in the presence of dry adsorbed chlorine gas for reproducing said image in tangible form on said surface.

6. The herein described process of reproducing images on copper surfaces, comprising providing said copper with a highly polished surface, then subjecting a film With images to light and registering said image in light and shadow on said surface in the presence of dry adsorbed chlorine gas for reproducing said image in tangible form on said surface, then fixing said image on said surface by subjecting the same to an electric current while said surfaceis immersed in a bath compounded as follows, distilled water, 1500 cubiccentimeters, nickel ammonium sulphate, 5 grams, sodium chromate, 5 grams, and ammonium. bisulphate, 5 grams.

7. The herein described process of reproducing images on copper surfaces,eomprising. providing said copper with a highly polished surface, then subjecting afilm with images to light and registering said image in light and shadow on said surface inthe presence of dry adsorbed chlorine gas for reproducing said image in tangible form on said surface, then fixing said image on said surface by subjectingthe same to an electric current while said surface is immersed in a bath compounded as follows, distilled water, 1500 cubic centimeters, nickel ammonium sulphate, 5 grams, sodium chromate, 5 grams, and ammonium bisulphate, 5 grams, then covering said surface with a transparent lacquer.

8. The herein described process of reproducing images on metallic surfaces, comprising providing a metal of a group consisting if iron, steel Monel metal, brass and copper with a highly polished surface, then sub ecting a film with images to light and registering said image in light and shadow on said surface in the presence of dry adsorbed chlorine gas for reproducing said image in tangible form on said surface, then fixing said image on said surface by subjecting the same to an electric current while said surface is immersed in a bath compounded as fol lows, distilled water, 1500 cubic centimeters, nickel ammonium sulphate, 5 grams, sodium chromate, 5 grams, and ammonium bisulphate, 5 grams. I

then placing a negative with images thereon over said chlorine treated film and subjecting the same to light. v

10. The herein described process of reproducing images on metallic surfaces, comprising the subjecting of a film to drych'lorine gas for a period of an hour or more, then placing. the same on a highly polished Monel metal surface, then placing a negative with images thereon over said chlorine treated film and subjecting the same to light.

. 11. The herein described process of reproducing images on metallic surfaces, comprising the subjecting of a film to dry chlorine gas for a period of an hour or more, then placing the same on a highly polished copper surface, then placing a negative with images thereon over said chlorine treated film and subjecting the same to light.

12. The herein described process of Te producing images on iron surfaces, comprising providing said iron with a highly polished surface, then placing a film with said image in contact with said surface and subjecting it to light in the presence of dry adsorbed chlorine gas for reproducing said image in tangible form on said surface.

13. The herein described process of reproducing images on Monel metal surfaces, comprising providing said Monel metal with a highly polished surface, then placing a film with said image in contact with said surface and subjecting it to light in the presence of dry adsorbed chlorine gas for reproducifng said image in tangible form on said surace.

14. The herein described process of reproducing images on metallic surfaces, comprising the subjecting of a film to dry chlorine gas for a period of an hour or more, then placing the. same on a. highly polished iron surface, then placing a negative with images thereon over said chlorine treated film and subjecting the same to light, then placing said iron surface in a bath compounded as follows: distilled water 1500 cubic centimeters, nickel ammonium sulphate 5 grams, sodium chromate 5 grams, and ammonium bisulphate 5 grams, and while submerged in said bath subjecting said surface to a current of electricity, then washing the iron surface and drying the same, then covering said surface with a fine transparent lacquer.

15. The herein described process of reproducing images on metallic surfaces, compris 5 ing the subjecting of a film mg the subjecting of gas for a period of placing the same on a metal surface, then placing a negative with images thereon over said chlorine treated film and subjecting the same to light, then placing said Monel metal surface in a bath compounded as follows, distilled water 1500 cubic centimeters, nickel ammonium sulphate 5 grams, sodium chromate 5 grams, and ammonium bisulphate 5 grams, and while submerged in said bathsubjecting said surface to a current of electricity, then washing the Monel metal surface and drying the same, then covering said surface with a fine transparent lacquer. 16. The herein described process of reproducing images on metallic surfaces, compristo dry chlorine an hour 'or more, then a film to dry chlorine highly polished Monel f gas for a period of an hour or more, then placing the same on ahighly polished copper surface, thenplacing a negative with images thereon over said chlorine treated film and subjecting the same to light, then placing said copper surface in a bath compounded as follows, distilled water 1500 cubic centimeters, nickel ammonium sulphate 5 grams, sodium chromate 5 grams, and ammonium bisulphate 5 grams, and while submerged in said bath subjecting said surface to a current of electricity, then washing the copper surface and drying the same, then covering said surface with a fine transparent lacquer.

17.. The herein described process of reproducing images on metallic surfaces, compris ing the subjecting of a film to dry chlorine gas for a period of an hour or more, then placing the same on a highly polished metallic surface of amaterial selected from a group consisting of any metal which is responsive to the action of chlorine gas when exposed to light, then placing a negative with images thereon over said chlorine treated film and subjecting the same to light.

18. The herein described process of reproducing images on metallic surfaces, comprising the subjecting of a film to dry chlorine gas for a period of an hour or more, then placing the same on a highly polished metallic surface of a material selected from a group consisting of any metal which is responsive to the action of chlorine gas when exposed to light, then placing a negative with images thereon over said chlorine treated film and subjecting the same to light, then placing said metallic surface in a bath compounded as follows, distilled water, 1500 cubic centimeters, nickel ammonium sulphate, 5 grams. sodium chromate, 5 grams, and ammonium bisulphate, 5 grams, and while submerged in said bath subjecting said surface to a current of electricity of 10 volts for one second, then washing the metallic surface and drying the same, then covering said surface with a fine, transparent lacquer.

19. The herein described process of reproducing images on metallic surfaces, comprising providing a metal of a material selected rom a group consisting of any metal responsive to the action of chlorine gas when exposed to light, then subjecting a transparent member to dry chlorine gas for a period of an hour or more, then placing said transparent member against said surface, then placing a negative with an image in contact with said chlorine gas treated film and then subjecting the same to light, then electroplating said surface.

20. The herein described process of reproducing images on metallic surfaces, comprising providing a metal of a material selected from a group consisting of any metalresponsive to the action of chlorine gas when exposed to light, then subjecting a transparcut member to dry chlorine gas for a period of an hour or more, then placing said transparent member against said surface, then placing a negativewith an image in contact with said chlorine gas treated film, then subjecting the same to light, then electroplating said surface, then covering said surface with a transparent lacquer.

21. The herein described process of reproducing images on metallic surfaces, comprising providing a metal of a material selected from a group consisting of any metal responsive to the action of chlorine gas when exposed to light, then subjecting a film with images to light and registering-said image in lightand shadow on said surface in the presence of dry absorbed chlorine gas for reproducing said image in tangible form on said surface, then fixing said image on said surface by subjecting the same to an electric current while said surface is immersed in a bath compounded as follows, distilled water, 1500 cubic centimeters, nickel ammonium sulphate, 5 grams, sodium chromate, 5. grams, and ammonium bisulphate, 5 grams.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Diego, California this 21st day of February 1929.

' JOHN P. BROCKWAY. 

